Automatic counting-machine.



G. W, YOST. AUTOMATIC COUNTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914.

Iafented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- WITNESSES G. W. YOST.

AUTOMATIC COUNTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 19H.

1 1,172,921. Pa tented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A imRA/H GEORGE W. YOS'I, OF PALIS ADE PARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC COUNTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. YosT, a cltizen of the United States, and a resident of Palisade Park, in the county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Counting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic counting machines, and has for its object to pro: vide an improved machine which is designed especially to automatically quickly register parcels, boxes, barrels and the like of standard sizes, and especially when such containers are of diflerent sizes, as is the case with beer barrels, in connection with which it is customary to use 1/4 barrels, 1/2 barrels, 1/1 barrels, etc.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the'accompanying drawings, and the invention will be morelfully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a beer barrel elevator, in which is shown three difi'erently sized bar? rels in a position to cooperate with my improved counter, which is also clearl shown in that view, Fig. 2 is a side view 0 my improved counter, Fig. 3 shows the electrical connections used with my improved counter,

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the contact device, Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the hinge used in my improved counter, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cushioning device intermediate the different arms whose length depends upon the size of the beer barrel.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the elevator 10 is provided with a supporting member 11 and has means therein for supporting different sized beer barrels, as for instance, the outwardly extending inclined arm 15, a similar arm 16, and a similar arm 17, each of which support in position a beer barrel, but which support different sized beer barrels, for instance, the uppermost arm l5 supports the beer barrel 18, which is the smallest sized barrel, corresponding to the 1/4 barrel, the arm 16 supports the medium sized barrel, indicated by 19, and which represents the 1/2 barrel, and

the arm 17 supports the largest sized ordinary beer barrel, which is indicated by 20, and represents the 1/1 barrel. These barrels, as is well known, are moved along from one part of the building to the other, and in the course of this movement it is advantageous and desirable to count the same. On the other hand again, it may be advantageous and desirable to count the same as the barrels are moved into the wagon which transports the barrels from place to place. For this purpose, the elevator 10 is provided with an outwardly extending supporting arm 25, which is suitably riveted at 26 to the elevator 10, and which has secured thereto by suitable rivets 27, the frame 30 which acts as the frame of y improved counting devlce. v

This counting device has for its essential elements three pivoted arms 31, 32 and 33, each hinged at 34. The arm 31 extends farthest upwardly from the pivotal point 34, so as to be able to contact with the smallest diameter barrel corresponding to the barrel 4 18 in Fig. 1. The next extending arm is the arm 32, which contacts with the barrel 19, and the smallest extending arm is the arm 33, which is adapted'to contact with the largest diameter barrel 20. The line of contacts are shown in dotted lines. So for instance, the line 35 shows a line of contact which is adapted to cooperate with the arm 31. The line of contact 36 is adapted to cooperate with the arm 32, and the line of contact 37 is adapted to cooperate with the arm 33. Of course, when it is said that the line of contact cooperates with the respective arms, it is meant by that that a barrel of a size corresponding to the lines of contact referred to, cooperates with thehsame.

To the arm 31 is secured an insulated support 40, in which moves freely a post 41 having the shoulder portion 42, to which a metal contact member 43 is secured, and between which metal contact member 43 and the insulating block 40, a spring 44 is arranged. The metal contact member 43 is adapted to contact with metal bars 45 and 46, and 49 which are separated by a layer 47 and 50 of insulating material. As the metal contact member 43 moves on these two metal bars 45 and 46, the contact is made between the two bars 45 and 46. When the arm 31 is in its normal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the contact member 43 makes contact with the bar 45 and with the bar 49, which is insulated from the bar 46 by a layer 50 of insulating material. The arm 32 is provided with an insulating support 51, which has a contact member similar to that indicated by 43 and clearly shown in Fig. 4, but which contact member makes and breaks the contact between the metal bar 52 and the metal bar 53, and bar 56, between which the insulating layers 54 and 55 is arranged, and which metal bar 53 1s separated by the insulating layer 55, from the metal bar 56. Similarly, the arm 33 has a support 57, and this has a contact member like that shown in Fig. 4, and this contacts with a metal bar 58 and the metal bar 59, and bar 61, which are separated by the insulating layer 60 and 62,, and which metal bar 59 is separated from the metal bar 61 by the insulating layer 62, these metal bars and insulating layers being clearly seen in Fig. 3. The insulating layers and arrangement of metal bars are so arranged as to permit only one counting device to be operated as each barrel passes the pivoted arms 31, 32 and 33, so that in the event-that more than one arm is raised, as in the case when the medium sized or the larger sized barrel moves the arms, only one counting device actually registers. For this purpose, the arms are also provided with a notched arm which is pivoted at 71 to the bracket 72 of the arm 31, and which is provided with the notch 73 and the notch 74. The arm 70 is adapted to engage a slot 75 of the arm 32, so that the notch 73 is engaged by the portion 76 of the arm 32. The arm 70 also engages a slot 77 of the arm 33, in a manner that the portion 78 of the arm 33 engages the notch 74. Thus, when for instance, the 1/2 barrel, which contacts with the arm 32, raises the arm 32, the arm 31 is raised with it, and in order to prevent the arm 32 from falling downwardly quicker than the arm 31, and thereby bringing about an independent registration of the counting device, this arm 70 by reason of a spring action, maintains its engagement with the portion 76 entering the notch 73. Similarly, if the largest barrel should cause the arm 33 to be raised on its pivot 34, this arm 33 will move with it the arm 32and the arm 31 and the notched arm 70, by reason of the portion 78 entering into the notch 74, and will prevent the arm 33 from falling independently of the arms 32 and 33. The lower end of the arm 70 extends through and swings in a slot 70' in the base of the frame 30. This notched arm 70 is swung toward the left by a) springactuated rod 80 which is pivoted at 81 and which has secured thereto a spring 82, and which has at its outer end, a roller 83 which presses on the arm 70. This spring 82 thus causes the roller 83 to be pressed against the arm 70 and to maintain it in position therewith it engages the proper arm, be it either 32 or 33. lVhen the arm 7 0 is lowered it engages the outer end of the slot 70 and is thereby automatically swung toward the left a sufiicient distance to release the upper arm from its notches when it reaches its normal position. The arm 32 is furthermore provided with an extending portion 85 which has secured thereto in a suitable manner a rubber cylinder or roller 86, the object being to have this-extending arm 85 with its roller 86 act as a cushion, when one part engages the other. Similarly, the arm 33 is provided with the extending arm 87, which also is provided with a roller 88 to act as a cushioning device. Similarly, an arm 89 is provided with a roller 90, which acts as a cushioning device. The arms 31, 32 and 33 are suitably curved or bent, as indicated by 91', 92 and 93, so as to provide the least amount of friction when the barrels pass thereunder.

The various arms are suitably hinged to one shaft 94, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. For this purpose, the arm 31 is provided with rearwardly extending ears 95, which ears surround the shaft 94, and are pivotally connected therewith. The arm 32 is provided with rearwardly extending ears 96, which similarly surround the shaft 94, and are pivotally connected therewith, and the arm 33 is provided with a rearwardly extending ear 97, which surrounds the shaft 94. and which is pivotally connected therewith. l i

The electrical connections are clearly shown in Fig. 3, and in this diagram, the curved metal bars 45 and 46,52, 53, 58, 59, 49, 56, and 61 are clearly shown. The metal bars 45, 46 and 49 are adapted to contact with the contact member 43 of the arm 31 and when the parts are in their normal position, that is, when they are not used at all for the purpose of counting, the contact member of the arm 31 makes contact with the bar 45 and the bar 49. The contact member of the arm 33 makes contact with the bar 58 and the bar 61, and the contact member of the arm 32 makes contact with the bar 52 and the bar 56. When this conditlon exists, no counting takes place, as Will be clearly seen by following up the diagram shown in Fig. 3.

Supposing that the operation of the device is like that shown in Fig. 1, whereby the smallest sized barrel moves the arm 31. Then and in that case, the contact member 43 on arm 31 will be caused to move over both the bars 45 and 46. The current entermg from the line 100 and'through the conductor 101 flows through the bar 46, through the contact piece 43 on arm 31 into the bar 45, through the conductor 102 to the bar 52. through the contact piece 43 of the arm 32 to the bar 56, through the conductor 103, through the magnet coil 104, and returns through the line conductor 103. By energizing the magnet coil 104, the counter 104 WhlCh is connected therewith, and which claim as new and desire to may be of any suitable construction is operated. Similarly by operating the magnet coils 108 and 110, the counters 108 and 110*, which are respectively connected thereto are operated. Each counting device will be operated at the proper time.

Supposing on the other hand, the device is operated as shown in Fig. 2, which corresponds to the counting of the medium sized barrels, then the current flows in the manner similar to that just described, but only up to the bar 52, from the bar 52, instead of passing over the bar 56, it passes over to the bar 53, as the contact piece 43 on arm 32 is moved along the bars, and from the bar 53, the current passes through the conductor 106 to the bar' 58, through the contacting piece 43 of the arm 33 to the bar 61, through the conductor 107 and through the magnet coil 108, energizes it, operating the counter 108 and returns by means of the line wire 105. If, finally, thelargest sized barrel is intended to be counted, then and in that case, the current passes as shown in diagram Fig. 3, in the manner just described, with the exception, however, that the current only passes up to the bar 58, thereafter it passes to the bar 59, as contact piece 43 ismoved along bars 58 and 59 through the conductor 109, through the magnet coil 110, energizes it, operating the counter 110, and returns to the line wire 105. It will be noted, however, that when, for instance, both arms 31 and 32 are operated, so as to count the medium sized barrel, no registration of the counting device corresponding to the smallest sized barrel takes place, and similarly, when all three arms are raised, it will be noted that no counting of the smallest sized and medium sized barrels takes place, in view of the fact that the magnet coils 104 and 108 are not energized, as will be clearly seen by tracing out the electrical diagram. In order to prevent, however, the counting of these individual barrels in addition to the counting of the barrels as desired, the notched arm 70 is provided, which holds the arms in a position together, so as to prevent one arm from dropping quicker than the other, and thereby energizing that magnet coil, which would cause the counting to take place.

I have shown several embodiments of my invention but it is clear that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I secure by Letters Patent:

1. An automatic counting machine, comprising a plurality of arms hinged at one of,

their ends, and of a different size corresponding to the different sizes of the articles to be counted, electrical connections brought into or out of circuit by said arms, and a pivoted notched arm connecting one or more of the arms.

2. An improved counter, comprising a plurality of arms, corresponding to the sizes of the articles to be counted, each of said arms being pivoted at one of its ends, a notched arm pivoted to one of said counting arms and provided with a plurality of notches, adapted to be engaged by the other arms for holding them in position, and electrically operated means for counting the movement of said arms.

3. An improved counter, comprising a frame, a shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of arms plvoted to said shaft, said arms having different sizes, corresponding to the articles to be counted, a notched arm pivoted to one of said counting arms, and adapted to engage one or more of the other arms, spring-actuated means for holding said notched arm in position, contact pieces, one for each of said counting arms, curved contact bars adapted to be brought into electrical circuit with said contact pieces, and electrical connections with said bars for actuating the counting means.

In a counter, the combination of a frame, a shaft supported by said frame, a,

plurality of counting arms pivoted to said shaft, a notched arm pivoted to one of said counting arms, and adapted to engage one or more of the other arms, spring'actuated means for holding said notched arm in position, contact pieces, one for each of said counting arms, contact bars arranged in sets in the direction of the movement of the contact pieces on the counting arms, one bar of each set being the full length of the set, and having oppositely thereto two bars, a second bar of shortest size and a third bar of longer size :than the second and shorter than the first, the contact piece of each counting bar initially contacting with the longest bar and the shortest bar, and closing the circuit thereby, but not causing any count to be made, counting means and electrical connections with said bars for actuating the counting means when the contact pieces close the circuit between the longest bar and the third bar.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. YOST.

Witnesses: i F. Hose, Jos. Bxsnano. 

